Nigerian to administer Rhodes scholarship

A Nigerian, Ike Chioke, has been appointed National Secretary for the administration of the Rhodes Scholarship in West Africa.

Chioke, Managing Director of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, was a beneficiary of the Rhodes Scholarship, which provides funding for exceptional students to undertake postgraduate studies at the prestigious University of Oxford.

Charles Conn, Chief Executive Officer of The Rhodes Trust and Warden of Rhodes House in Oxford, United Kingdom, said Chioke was considered because of his role in seeking the restoration of the scholarship in West Africa.

“For many years, Ike has been such a strong supporter of the reinstatement of the Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa. That, coupled with his knowledge of Nigeria, Ghana and the entire sub-region, makes him the standout choice for the role,” said Conn in a statement made available to The Nation.

Chioke, who earned an M. Phil in Management from Oxford, will be working with another Nigerian, Tope Folarin, who has been named Strategic Adviser for the sub-region. Folarin is an award-wining writer and a former spokesperson for google.

Conn described Folarin as “a highly motivated and hard working individual who is passionate about development in Africa.”

He added that Folarin’s creativity and drive would be vital to strengthening the Rhodes scholarship in West Africa.

The pair will work with others to oversee the selection process for a brilliant student from West Africa to get full funding to study at Oxford University for the September 2018 academic session.

Over time, the Trust seeks to endow up to three Rhodes scholarships for the region each year to ensure that they exist in perpetuity.